An astonishing civil rights story from Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist Steve Sheinkin.

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated Navy base at Port Chicago, California, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring off-duty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile away. On August 9th, 244 men refused to go back to work until unsafe and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. When the dust settled, fifty were charged with mutiny, facing decades in jail and even execution. This is a fascinating story of the prejudice that faced black men and women in America's armed forces during World War II, and a nuanced look at those who gave their lives in service of a country where they lacked the most basic rights. Download and start listening now!

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Quotes & Awards

“With deft, efficient pacing, Sheinkin tells the little-known World War II story of fifty African-American sailors who were convicted of mutiny for protesting dangerous, racially biased treatment.”

“Through
extensive research, Sheinkin effectively re-creates both the tense atmosphere
at Port Chicago before and after the disaster…There is a wealth of
primary-source material here, including interviews with the convicted sailors,
court records, photographs, and other documents, all of which come together to
tell a story that clearly had a huge impact on race relations in the military.
This is a story that remains largely unknown to many Americans, and is one of
the many from World War II about segregation and race that is important to
explore with students.”

“The
award-winning author of Bomb returns
with another compelling American history narrative…Direct quotes from the
sailors themselves flesh-out this account of a little-known piece of civil
rights history.”

Booklist

“Sheinkin follows Bomb with an account of another aspect of the Second World War, stemming from an incident that seems small in scope but whose ramifications would go on to profoundly change the armed forces and the freedom of African Americans to serve their country.”

Horn Book

“Narrator
Dominic Hoffman serves as an outstanding educator while also capturing the
voices of many of the victims of this tragedy. He also portrays Supreme Court
Justice Thurgood Marshall, who became involved with their case…This audiobook
offers young listeners a splendid opportunity to hear a trial in action and
learn about the beginning of the civil rights movement.”

About the Author

Steve Sheinkin is the award-winning author of fast-paced, cinematic histories for young readers. His The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights was longlisted for the National Book Award. Bomb: The Race to Build-and Steal-the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon was a Newbery Honor Book, a National Book Award finalist, and winner of the Sibert Award and YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.

About the Narrator

Dominic Hoffman, winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration, is a Los Angeles–based actor of stage, screen, and television. He has appeared in such television shows as The Shield, NYPD Blue, and The Jamie Foxx Show. He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art as well as the American Conservatory Theater.

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